I am the founding partner of LatAm Intersect PR, a full service agency specializing in Latin America, We are an 'earned-first' PR agency with offices in 12 countries in the region. Our core expertise is earned; persuading people (journalists, influencers) through storytelling, relationships, data etc. These techniques are applied, not only to PR, but across social media, influencer engagement, public affairs and, even, events. We also have a specialist research team who help us add substance to our clients' storylines and narratives (primary and secondary data). www.latamintersectpr.com

I was formerly Chief Operating Officer of India's largest PR firm, responsible for the agency's offering, client service, account development, team recruitment and development, and international expansion

My role involved driving insight and good practices across Edelman Significa’s international client base, in addition to managing the technology practice and strategic accounts across Latin America.

I ran Edelman’s largest account in Asia Pacific; leading a team of 140 staff, my role was to ensure operational excellence and compelling, measurable programming across 28 Tata companies in India.Central to the above was the development and implementation of a methodology (the ‘Code’) to ensure absolutely consistent levels of counsel and service across Edelman’s 10 regional offices and 30 other Indian cities in which we operate.I provided CEO/MD-level counsel covering PR, public affairs and digital in addition to some investor relations support (principally positioning and messaging workshops) . Through the ‘Code’ executive teams drove content-led campaigns (as opposed to the traditional press-release-based communications offered by our predecessors), covering multiple platforms from print and online media to social media and speaker platforms.Through a combination of persistence and deep client relationships, I promoted a genuinely strategic approach to PR, driving – not merely increased visibility – but enhanced customer feedback, favourable regulatory environments and higher share valuations.I also led a drive to extend the account beyond India based on an identical methodology (adapted from a model initially developed for HP EMEA (see below)); as a result of this, we secured international business for Taj Hotels, the Tata group’s leisure and hospitality business.

I designed and implemented a pan-EMEA operating model to support PR for HP’s Printing and Imaging Division; the role included:̵ Strategic counsel and implementation of pan-EMEA campaigns̵ Training and development of all account teams (100+ staff)̵ Back office ($9 million of billings and 20+ campaigns pa, 44 markets)̵ Metrics and measurement for all activitiesCampaigns covered traditional media and digital platforms as well as industry analysts. The model was based from Barcelona, Spain, a relatively low cost location but one suitable for attracting internationally-minded talent, enabling Edelman to maintain margins and effectively deliver more PR than traditional London-centred alternatives. This model was adapted to secure and manage other EMEA mandates including eBay (12 European markets) and LinkedIn (22 global markets) for whom I was also the strategic lead based in Barcelona. I also provided strategy and counsel for Adobe’s European PR campaign developing content for European markets to implement.

I was responsible for revenues in excess of €1.5 million with high profile clients including: Research In Motion (BlackBerry), Duracell (B2B), Ciena, LogicaCMG, Pantone, Interwoven, Infor and Western Digital. On a day to day basis, I directly supported a number of clients on a strategic level including Research In Motion, Information Builders and Infor, ensuring their communications objectives were met within the context of their overall business plans. From a strategic business development perspective, I was responsible for generating over €350,000 of new business every year covering all segments of the technology industry from telecommunications, enterprise computing and digital media to enterprise software and consumer products winning clients such as Western Digital, GFT (a €700 million global IT services company), Mio Technologies (Europe’s number two vendor of PDAs and GPS navigation systems) and Samsung (electronics division). In 2006, I launched the agency’s Benelux operations currently supporting a range of B2B and B2C clients from our Paris offices. I was also heavily involved in all aspects of client satisfaction and new service offerings including new a range of new media communication tools, for instance, focusing on the impact of blog communities and forums on companies’ brand image. As part of this activity, I negotiated an exclusive partnership with the market research agency, IpsosMori, to deliver a series of workshops across Europe around this theme which was a key revenue driver over the coming months for both companies. During my tenure, Hotwire France was voted TopCom B2B agency of the year (2005), Strategies B2B agency of the year (2005) and TopCom B2C bronze award as technology agency of the year (2006).

Coordinating EMEA public relations for HP's PC division. I helped to establish a local presence for the agency to manage pan-European PR and analyst relations programmes for Hewlett-Packard (HP). The role involved providing senior counsel and support to local PR managers in 30 countries across Europe, Middle East and Africa for HP’s Services and Personal Systems Groups.Reporting to the European PR director of each division, I developed strategic plans, campaigns and accompanying materials to support the programmes across Europe. I was also involved in the measurement and evaluation of local PR agencies charged with delivering the programmes in their respective markets.My role covered a number of industry milestones including the launch of HP’s Itanuim range (the jointly developed processor designed to propel Intel into the enterprise server sector) and the €20 billion merger with Compaq. Following the announcement of the latter I was appointed to the merger ‘clean room’ to develop internal and external content and messaging in anticipation of approval from US and EU competition authorities for the transaction.Other responsibilities during this period included:̵ Management of a pan European press evaluation programme for PC products̵ Media training of senior executives̵ Analyst relations̵ Support of local PR initiatives ̵ Crisis communications̵ Internal communications

I was responsible for communications for the global telecommunications carrier’s corporate division. Based in London, I delivered PR campaigns to the UK technology and telecommunications press for the corporate and business-to-business divisions of the company.In addition to managing a specialist PR agency for ongoing trade PR, I initiated and implemented an industry analyst programme to profile the company’s services and outsourcing capabilities.Programme highlights included the launch of www.ic24 the local news portal pioneered by The Mirror Group and supported by technology partners, Virgin, Microsoft, Compaq as well as Cable & Wireless whose press launch I managed. I also coordinated communications around the £2 billion IT support services deal negotiated between Cable & Wireless and IBM to provide full desktop and helpdesk support for the former’s employees across the globe – at that time, Europe’s largest outsourcing contract.

At Weber Shandwick in London I provided UK and pan-EMEA PR support to a range of clients including: Adaptec (networking equipment), SSA (ERP), Mirror Image Internet (Web caching – now part of Xcelera, Inc.), Planning Sciences (subsequently purchased by Cognos) and Aavid (thermal management for IT equipment). I was also actively involved in the agency’s new business initiatives and a member of the European Technology Practice Group supporting the network of offices and subsidiaries across the region